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Life Unexplained (Or Attempted Anyways)

Simply phrased, life is consecutive moments strung together into days, months and years. This subject is timeless and relevant and fascinating and confusing.

Kristen Bailey

Mar 21, 2017

Roanoke College

DesignWrld

Life
noun \ˈlīf\
: the ability to grow, change, etc., that separates plants and animals from things like water or rocks

: the period of time when a person is alive

: the experience of being alive

The above definitions describe the word “life” and were extracted from the Merriam-Webster dictionary. These explanations are easily comprehended, and yet, even with this seemingly simplistic approach, these definitions lack clarity to us — or at least I find them quite lacking. How can such a complex process, our very beings, be described in such elementary terms?

Simply phrased, life is consecutive moments strung together into days, months and years. This subject is timeless and relevant and fascinating and confusing. Our origin. Why we are here. Our purpose. Where to go from here. How to make a lasting impact during our brief time on this earth. How to make the moments count. How to move from yesterday to make tomorrow better and brighter.

Apologetically, I realize that I cannot shed much light on this topic for you. I am also on this journey and figuring it out each step along the way. Life is baffling and oftentimes, just plain weird. However, I have attempted to present a perspective on the matter that you might find worthy of consideration.

One element of life that is most commonly noted is the unpredictability that it exhibits. Many times, various extremes faced in day-to-day living serve to usher bewilderment into our lives. One moment may yield pure bliss, while the next brings harrowing sorrow. This is the hardest part for me to grasp, that everything can be grand and then, without warning, turned upside down. It all takes place within the blink of an eye. Suddenly, life changes — slightly or not so slightly.

Yet we are human, and these experiences serve to mold us into who we are. Thus, we are connected to one another by our experiences, our stories, our personal biographies. The compilation of events that sculpt, mold, shape, and configure each of us is the purest form of beauty known.

The most important words of advice I have to offer are:

1. Enjoy the journey.
2. Do NOT wait for tomorrow or next week or next year.
3. Live for now.
4. Enjoy the little moments.
5. Find reasons to smile.
6. Go out of your way to make someone else smile.

And maybe, just maybe, you will fall in love with your life. Not because your life is perfect, but contraire! You will fall in love because you have perceived the beauty that your life has become.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Life Unexplained (Or Attempted Anyways)

Simply phrased, life is consecutive moments strung together into days, months and years. This subject is timeless and relevant and fascinating and confusing.

The most important words of advice I have to offer are:

1. Enjoy the journey. 2. Do NOT wait for tomorrow or next week or next year. 3. Live for now. 4. Enjoy the little moments. 5. Find reasons to smile. 6. Go out of your way to make someone else smile.

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All names should be "unisex names."

1. Communicating via email can be awkward.

2. Appointments usually accompany weird looks.

3. Introducing yourself to someone is never without a hitch.

4. You’ve probably thought about changing your name.

5. You’re often asked why you have the name you do.

6. You get excited when you meet someone of your gender with your name.

7. You feel awkward when you meet someone of the opposite gender with your name.

8. You’ve had someone say to you, “I knew a [your name], but they were [your opposite gender].”

9. You’ve heard a bad joke/pick-up line or two about your name before.

10. People are surprised when they see you.

11. You’re extra sensitive to other unique or unisex names.

12. You’ve fought with your parents about it.

13. All things considered, you’re happy your name makes you unique.

You know that all of these things apply to you. You'll just never tell.

I get it... I'm pale.

1. At least I can't lose you in a crowd!

2. Oh my goodness your skin is like glow-in-the-dark.

3. Can't you just get fake tan?

4. Do you tan or just burn?

5. Your kids are going to look like Casper the Friendly Ghost!

6. *holds arm against your arm* Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. *holds pale arm against another pale arm* Aw, at least you're darker than her!

8. I laid out by the pool almost every day over break!

9. I haven't used sunscreen since I was, like, five.

10. *adjusts selfie lighting to their face* Oops, where'd you go??

11. *after working out* Your face is SO red!

12. *wears white* Look! You're all one color!

13. You need to get some sun.

14. Aren't you excited for summer?

The struggle bus is real.

1. Child prodigies:

2. Hearing other musicians in the practice room next door and accepting that you will never be as talented as them:

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7. Knowing that there's always that one professor during juries:

8. The oh-so-attractive band/choir uniforms:

9. Realizing that a college campus is maybe not the best atmosphere to finish your latest composition:

10. Hearing "Oh, you sing opera? I LOVE Phantom of the Opera!" for the hundredth time:

11. When people think finals week is a breeze for you.

12. When you're drowning in the stress that comes with 18+ credits (and not to mention all those 0 credit classes) and people ask you how you are:

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Because you need it in your life.

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1. Enjoy the journey.
2. Do NOT wait for tomorrow or next week or next year.
3. Live for now.
4. Enjoy the little moments.
5. Find reasons to smile.
6. Go out of your way to make someone else smile.

Subscribe to our
Newsletter

6. holds arm against your arm Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. holds pale arm against another pale arm Aw, at least you're darker than her!

10. adjusts selfie lighting to their face Oops, where'd you go??

11. after working out Your face is SO red!

12. wears white Look! You're all one color!